PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, May 18: The Adityapur-based regional office of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) has decided to set up 12 continuous, real-time air monitoring stations in three districts of Kolhan- East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela- Kharsawan.
The locations include the circle and block offices of East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts, apart from district collectorates, a few other government buildings and the office of Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA) at Adityapur formerly known as Adityapur Industrial Area Development Authority (AIADA).
These stations would be equipped with advanced dust samplers which will help determine ambient air quality, apart from sulphur-di-oxide and carbon monoxide content in the air.
Officials of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has given approval.
The monitoring stations would function round-the-clock and monitor ambient air quality on a real-time basis.
As continuous monitoring involves various processes, special software would be installed to provide direct and real-time measurements of air pollution.
“It is an important tool for better compliance. The monitoring stations would help get accurate and real-time data at higher frequency with minimal manual intervention and manpower,” explained an official.
The monitoring stations would be equipped with PM10 dust samplers, which measure particulate matter up to 10 microns.
Currently, three manual monitoring stations are functional under the Adityapur regional office of JSPCB. They are based at Bistupur, Golmuri and Adityapur.